Who or Whom? How to Use Them Correctly Without Confusion

Do you often pause, confused by whether to use "who" or "whom"? You’re not alone. Many aspiring (and professional) writers face this challenge on the regular.

By getting this distinction right, you can enhance your credibility as a writer. Especially because not everyone can do it.

This post will help you understand when to use "who" instead of "whom." It includes rules for using each word, tips to help you remember their roles, and examples to illustrate their correct usage.

By the end, you’ll feel confident choosing the right version of this commonly misused pronoun.

Understanding "Who"

"Who" serves as a subject pronoun, performing the action in a sentence.

For example:

• Who is going to the party?

  
  

In this case, "who" is the subject that performs the action of attending the party.

You could answer the question with two other pronouns in the same case: She is going to the party. He is going to the party.

Think of "who" as the pronoun you use when you want to identify the doer of an action. "Who" is simply a stand-in for an unknown party when the correct pronoun would be "he" or "she."

Remember: if you can replace it with "he" or "she," then "who" is correct.

Understanding "Whom"

"Whom" functions as an object pronoun. Its place is referring to the recipient of the action in a sentence.

For example:

• To whom are you speaking?

  
  

Here, "whom" is the object of the preposition "to." It indicates the person receiving the action of speaking. It is in the same case as the pronouns you'd use to answer the question:

You are speaking to him. You are speaking to her.

Think of "whom" as answering the questions "to whom" or "for whom," signaling that someone is on the receiving end of an action.

Remember: if you can replace it with "him" or "her," then "whom" is correct.

Key Differences Between Who and Whom

The primary difference between "who" and "whom" is their grammatical roles:

• Use "who" when the person is doing the action (the subject).

• Use "whom" when the person is receiving the action (the object).

  
  

It's easier to use these two words correctly if you remember to format them the same way we adjust the pronouns "he" and "him" without even thinking about it. "He" performs the action, while the action is done to "him."

Likewise, "who" and "whom" follow the same rules.

Never hurts to double-check your guide book

Practical Tips to Remember Who vs. Whom

Here are some strategies to help you master when to use "who" and "whom":

1. Change your statement into a question. Would you use "he/she" or "him/her"? If the answer is "he" or "she," go with "who." If it’s "him" or "her," choose "whom."

   
   

2. Watch for prepositions: When you see a preposition such as "to," "for," or "with," check what noun or pronoun follows. If it’s followed by a pronoun, you usually need "whom."

   
   

3. Simplifying the sentence: If you're unsure which pronoun to use, try removing surrounding clauses. This can clarify the sentence and direct you to the correct choice.

Example: The man, to whom I was speaking, turned quickly at the noise.

Change the sentence to include only the essentials: The man to whom I was speaking.

Example Sentences

Understanding the differences and practical tips makes it easier to see these words in action. Here are a few more examples to solidify your understanding:

• Who called you yesterday? (The subject is doing the calling.)

• Whom did you invite to dinner? (The object is receiving the invitation.)

  
  

• Who will take care of the meeting? (Subject performing the action.)

  
  

• For whom is the gift intended? (Object receiving the gift.)

  
  

These examples should help you incorporate "who" and "whom" correctly into your sentences. If you notice, whom shows up more often when passive voice is involved - a topic for another article.

Think of all the potential

Common Mistakes When Using Who and Whom

Even experienced writers sometimes make errors with "who" and "whom." Here are a few common mistakes to avoid:

Mistake: Using "whom" when "who" is right

• Incorrect: Whom is going on vacation? (Him is going on vacation.)

• Correct: Who is going on vacation? (He is going on vacation.)
  

I've also seen writers who aren't sure when "whom" is correct start using it as the default. This is actually worse than not using it when you should, since it implies that you're trying to look smart when you have no idea what you're doing.

Writers often simplify language in informal contexts. If you're going for a casual or modern style, you can probably get away with never using "whom" at all. But if you're using it where it doesn't belong, it'll stick out and sound off, even to those who aren't sure exactly how the rules go.

Final Thoughts

Distinguishing between "who" and "whom" is one more thing to add to your professional writer checklist. By applying the strategies in this article, such as transforming statements into questions and paying close attention to sentence structure, you can reliably choose the correct pronoun.

Remember: "who" is the subject while "whom" serves as the object. With some practice, you can navigate these rules easily, enhancing your writing quality and avoiding awkward grammatical errors.

Next time you're faced with "who" or "whom," you can confidently select the right word.